Frequently Asked Questions

All guests are welcome to enjoy a "to go", self served continental breakfast typically consisting of cereal, bagels, milk, juice, cream cheese, coffee and tea (subject to changes and substitutions based on availability). These items are available until 11:00 am, after which guests are expected to provide their own meals and snacks.

07. Are people from Columbus allowed to stay here?

Generally, no. Guests whose reservation information or ID show that they are from Columbus must provide proof of ongoing travel (future bus ticket, plane ticket, or hotel/hostel reservation) or must show a signed copy of their next lease (if staying here for a short period between leases). These restrictions do not apply to guests coming in from outside of Columbus. We are not a rooming house and we cannot accommodate people from Columbus who are looking for a cheap bed for the night. We offer a completely different experience.

02. What is the cancellation policy?

Guests must cancel their reservation at least 48 hours before their arrival appointment or they will be billed for the first two nights of your reservation. Guests wishing to shorten their stay must also give 48 hours notice to the new expected departure date or must otherwise pay for the two days. Guests who are a "no show" and make no effort to cancel by email prior to their scheduled check-in date will be billed for the full amount of their reservation. Guests cancelling prior to the 48 hour mark will be charges a 10% cancellation fee.

06. Where can I park?

If you are arriving by car we have four off-street parking spaces located behind the house. To get there, go down the driveway and you will see the four spaces on the left. Please park in a manner which will allow two cars to park on either side of the tree. This parking is considered first come first served and you will be towed if you park anywhere else back there besides those four spaces. If those spaces are full, you will have to find parking on the street (free, but always read the signs for no parking zones or regularly scheduled street sweeping). If you cannot find a spot on Indiana ave. we would recommend that you try Clinton St. (the next intersection after the hostel) since there is parking allowed on either side of the street. If you have no luck there, try Summit St. or Indianola Ave. In the very worst case scenarios (football/soccer game day, concert, local festival, etc...) you may have to park a couple of blocks away from the hostel. Our neighborhood is very safe, however, this is a big city so dont be a dummy by leaving valuables visible in your car. That would only serve to make our community less safe by enticing would-be criminals to come into our neighborhood in search of windows to break. We have never had any such issues and we would like to keep it that way.

03. Is there a curfew?

No, once checked in you will be issued a PIN number to get into the front door and a separate PIN number to get into your room. You may come and go as you please, but we ask that you remain respectful of other guests that may be sleeping.

26. How much does it cost to use the laundry equipment?

Nothing, it's free! However, you must provide your own detergent. If you didn't bring any, we have some for sale in our convenience center.

25. How much does it cost to use a bicycle?

Nothing, it's free! We ask that you thoroughly inspect the bike before taking it out to unsure it is in proper working order (tires, brakes, chain) and that you report any issues to the house manager. Additionally we ask all guests to sign the waiver list with a time out and time returned. Locks are included, but you may also use your own locks.

05. How much does internet access cost?

Nothing, it's free! We will put the password for our free WiFi on your room keycard.

24. Do you honor discounts for Hostelling International members or any other hostel affiliations?

No, we are an independent hostel and to make your stay more affordable we are not currently affiliated with any hostel organizations.

04. Do you offer separate dorms for men and women?

No, we are not a large enough hostel to offer separate dorms. All three of our dorms are co-ed. If your personal philosophy, religion, or culture requires that you do not sleep in the same room as someone from the opposite sex, we would encourage you to book a private room.

10. Do I need to bring my own linens?

No, we do not allow guests to use their own linens. You will be provided with all the linens you will need including a towel.

11. Is it possible to make a reservation without a credit or debit card?

No, you must be able to pay with a valid credit or debit card. We accept any debit card with the Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB, Diners Club, or Discover logo. We do not take "walk up" guests as all reservations must be registered on this website prior to arrival. The registration cutoff is 6:00 pm for last minute reservations (meaning reservations made on the day you plan to check in).

22. How much does a taxi cost from the airport or bus terminal to the hostel?

Too much! ($32 from airport and $17 from the bus station) After placing your booking you will receive information about a code for the app "Uber" which amounts to a $10 credit for new Uber users. Additionally you will also get information on a $20 transfer which is schedulable if you prefer.

18. Is there a restriction on age?

Underage high school students looking to stay here alone while visiting OSU or other area colleges must bring a permission letter signed by their parent or legal guardian that includes two contact phone numbers (preferably cell and home phone). We also ask that these students contact us by email prior to arrival so that we have some notice. Otherwise, guests must be at least 18 years of age or otherwise accompanied by a parent or guardian. There is no upper age limit for guests, we only ask that you be young at heart.

29. What payment methods do you accept?

Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, JCB, or Diners Club.

01. What are the check-in hours?

We allow check-ins anytime after 3 PM. If you will be arriving very late (after everyone has already gone to bed), let us know in advance by email and we will prepare a self check-in package for you.

12. Are pets allowed?

We do not allow pets in our Dorms as many guests are afraid of pets (dogs, cats, etc... are not necessarily common as pets in all parts of the world). We do, on occasion, allow pets in our private room. However, they must be pre-approved prior to your reservation and they must remain confined to a cage or pet carrier (one with a waterproof bottom) for the duration of the stay due to the allergy concerns of future guests (with the exception of the times you are taking the pet outside). If you allow your pet to roam freely around your room, you will be asked to leave.

21. May I bring a guest into the house?

Yes, but they must remain on the first floor of the house and must remain under your supervision. You will be held responsible for any theft or damage that your guest may cause.

20. Is the neighborhood (University District) safe?

Yes, given the resources provided to the neighborhood by the neighboring university plus the high prevalence of both students and families, our neighborhood turns out to be one of the safest places to stay in Columbus. As is expected in any big city, we would urge you to not encourage theft in our neighborhood by leaving valuables in your car.

17. Do you offer a discount for extended stays?

Yes, one night free out of a seven night contiguous stay (this means that the seventh night is free for every seven nights booked). For example, on a 21 night stay, the 7th, 14th, and 21st nights would be free. However the booking must be placed through this website. This deal will not be honored for bookings placed on other websites. Your confirmation email will show the incorrect (pre-discounted) amount due. We must manually apply any discounts to your reservation after you have booked.

13. Are there lockers available?

Yes, please bring a lock if possible as we have a limited number of locks to lend. Our lockers are the size of a standard gym locker. We recommend that you take your valuables out of your bag and place them into the locker leaving non-valuables (clothes, toiletries, etc) in your bag.

28. Is there someone on premises?

Yes, the host also lives in the hostel.

19. Is there a kitchen available for guest use?

Yes, there are two kitchens available to guests. Guests are responsible for cleaning up after themselves.

14. Is there a way to take public transportation to the hostel?

Yes, visit maps.google.com, select directions, select the public transportation option (the tab with a bus on it). Please note that public transportation may not be available very early (before 6 am) or very late (after 11 pm). Additionally, Columbus is serviced by the peer-to-peer taxi smartphone app Uber. These rates are about half the cost of a taxi. New users to Uber can use the code "mfqoi" to receive a $10.00 credit for free rides.

27. Is there air conditioning?

Yes, we have central air for the warmer months of the year.

23. Can you accommodate groups?

Yes, we have hosted groups as large as 20. However, we do not offer discounts for group bookings at this time.

15. Can I drop off my bags early?

Yes, you may store belongings in the lockers or the common area before check-in. Please let us know by email what time you will be stopping by to drop your bags off.